Commissioner for the Police Integrity Commission v Walker [No 2] [2006] NSWSC 696

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Commissioner for the Police Integrity Commission v Walker [No 2] [2006] NSWSC 696

HEARING DATE(S) : 20/06/2006, 21/06/2006, 27/06/2006, 28/06/2006 and supplementary written submissions 11/07/2006

JUDGMENT DATE : 14 July 2006

JURISDICTION : Administrative Law List

JUDGMENT OF : McDougall J at 1

DECISION : See para [231] of judgment

CATCHWORDS : CONTEMPT- of Police Integrity Commission - where witness falsely asserts lack of recollection - where witness not provided with particulars - where application for adjournment to put on medical evidence refused on incorrect and irrelevant grounds - whether witness denied opportunity to show cause - where hearing on the merits has now occurred - whether proceedings should be stayed permanently - whether lack of recollection was feigned, deliberately false and intended to or did obstruct Commission's inquiry - whether witness is guilty of contempt of Commission under s 118(1) (h) of Police Integrity Commission Act 1996

LEGISLATION CITED : Police Integrity Commission Act 1996

Coward v Stapleton (1953) 90 CLR 573 Forbes v New South Wales Trotting Club Ltd (1979) 143 CLR 242 Keeley v The Honourable Mr Justice Brooking (1979) 143 CLR 162 Kesavarajah v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 230 CASES CITED : Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Bhardwaj (2002) 209 CLR 597 R v Mailes (2001) 53 NSWLR 251 R v Presser [1958] VR 45 R v WRC (2003) 59 NSWLR 273 United States v Appel (1913) 211 Fed Rep 495

PARTIES : Commissioner for the Police Integrity Commission (Plaintiff) Christopher John Walker (Defendant)